Edward a



(No Model.)

B. A. OOCHRAN. HORSE GLIPPING MAGHINE.

N0. 426,920. PatentedApr.29,1890.

Ill/747% I [TH/E Him" HllllllllHIIIHHIIIIIIIHI UNITED STATES ATENT'FFICE.

EDlVARD A. COCHRAN, OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT ANDMESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES A. SAWTELLE AND ELIZA J.BEACH, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

HORSE-CLIPPING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 426,920, dated April29, 1890.

Application filed March 5, 1889- Serial No. 302,749. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. COOHRAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful lm n'ovement inHorse-Clipping Machines, of which the following is a specificavtion.

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby the clipping ofhorses can be accomplished with greater ease, facility, and rapiditythan has heretofore been possible.

My invention consists of a clipper constructed as hereinafter more fullyset forth, and the combination of the parts comprising the same with asuitable motor and intermediate connections for actuating the movableparts thereof, so that the operator will have full freedom of movementboth of hands and body while clipping the horse.

It also consists of specific features hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Clippers operated by motors mounted upon portable stands have heretoforebeen con- 2 5 nected with such motors by means of flexibledriving-shafts, through which the motive power is communicated to thecutter-blade. Long shafts of this character are not practicable ofeconomical construction and operation. Therefore short shafts are used,and the operator finds it necessary to stop the clipping of the horsefrom time to time tochange the location of the motor-stand as he movesabout the horse. Clippers heretofore operated by 3 5 flexible shaftshave also proven objectionable, in that the shaft interfered with thefree movement of the clipper. The object of my invention is to avoid thedifficulties above enumerated. I do this by providing the clipper-headwith a handle above the plane of its connection with the flexibledriving-shaft, so that the handle does not interfere with suchconnection, and the connection may be brought close to the cutv4 5ting-edges of the clipper, and also by connecting the flexible shaftwith a portable electric motor strapped to the person of the operatorand connecting such motor with electric wires having sufficient currentpassing through them to operate the motor and drive the clipper-blade.By this means the operator is relieved of all impediments to themovements-of his hands and body except that offered by the flexibleelectric wires.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a top view of the clipper-head, showing the flexibledriving-shaft connected therewith in close proximity to the cutterblade.The handle of the clipper is broken away to expose the point ofconnection between the clipper and the shaft. Fig. 2 is a verticallongitudinal section of the clipperhead,exhibitingalso afront view ofthe handleshank and laterally-arranged handle. Fig. 3 represents theelectric motor and its case and attachments, whereby it may be securedto the person of the operator. Fig. 4 represents the flexible shaft andits casing attached to the clipper-head, only a portion of which isshown. Fig. 5 is a vertical mid-section of the clipper-head, takentransversely of the blade.- The shank and a portion of the handle isalso shown in section.

The base or comb-plate A of the clipperhead is secured to a verticalshank C, provided with the short perforated laterally-projecting nippleR, upon which the collar P on the end of the casing-tube Q of theflexible shaft K screws. The crank-shaft I, which serves to operate thepitman I, which drives the top clipper-blade E, extends through and isjournaled in the perforation of the shank C and is axial with the nippleR. The projecting portion of shaft 1 is threaded for attachment with theflexible shaft. A laterally-p rojecting handle C is fixed upon the upperend of the shank C. By this contrivance the connection of the flexibleshaft with the operating mechanism is brought-close to theclipper-blade, 0 and the clipper can be manipulated with great freedomof motion.

The electric motor N is mounted within a portable axially-pivoted box 0,supported by brackets 1 2 3, secured to plates S, provided 5 withshoulder-hooks T and belts 6 and 4, by which the plate may be secured tothe back of the operator.

V V are the electric wires through which the electric energy isconducted to the motor.

In practice one end of the flexible shaft is inserted into thecoupling-socket M and the electric current is allowed to pass throughthe motor, thus operating it to drive the cutter-blade, the plates Shaving been previously fastened to the back of the operator, who graspsthe handle 0' and is ready for work. The wires V V are preferably led tothe motor from above, so that within a certain radius the movements ofthe operator are wholly unimpeded.

Thc clipper may be changed from one hand to the other, as desired, thepivoted box 0 accommodating the shaft to the changes thus made.

In order to cover the working partsthe pitman, the cutter-blade, and thecrankand protect the same from dust and hair, I provide the cover D andsecure the same to the comb-plate by means of the thumb-nut H, screwedupon the stud G, fixed to the base or comb-plate A and extending upwardthrough a slot in the cutter plate or blade E.

Now, having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a horse-clipping machine, the combination of a portable electricmotor provided with attachments for securing it to the back of theoperator, the clipper-head having the shank C and provided with theshort laterally-projecting perforated nipple R, the handle O, secured atthe upper end of said shank above the plane of said nipple, the comb-plate rigidly secured to the clipper-head, the cutter-plate pivotallymounted on the combplate, mechanism for operating said cutterplate, anda flexible driving-shaft connected to said mechanism below the plane ofthe handle and to the portable motor, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

2; In a horse-clipping machine, the combination set forth of thecomb-plate A, secured to the shank C, provided with the perforatedlateral nipple R and with the handle 0 above the plane of such nipple,the on tterplate E, pitman I, crankshaft I, journalcd in said nipple,the flexible driving-shaft, and the motor.

3. In a horse-clipping machine provided with a flexible driving-shaft,as set forth, a clipper-head provided with a handle arranged above theplane of attachment between the clipper-head and the flexibledriving-shaft.

ED\VARD A. COCHRAN.

IVitnesses:

II. P. K. Pack, A. C. HOLMES.

